Brand Rescue: Public Relations Unfiltered

If your marketing feels like it’s working harder than it should… we need to talk. Because here’s the truth: marketing in 2026 is not going to play by 2025’s rules , and if you’re still thinking about marketing the same way, you’re going to feel stuck fast. In this episode, I break down why visibility is the real currency of marketing and why so many brands are building beautiful “marketing machine...

Let’s talk about the absolute explosion of online marketing courses. If your Instagram feed is full of “six-figure frameworks” and “plug-and-play strategies,” this episode is for you. In this episode, I’m breaking down why so many marketing courses, especially the ones sold by Instagram coaches, don’t actually work for small business owners. Most of them are cookie-cutter by design and ignore the...

If you think email marketing doesn’t work anymore, this episode is about to call you out. Whitney Lee and marketing expert Allison Hardy dive into one of the biggest misconceptions in the industry: email isn’t the problem, your confidence is. They break down why so many business owners are scared to sell, how that fear shows up in their messaging, and why email is still one of the most powerful to...

Think billboards are outdated? Think again. In this episode of Brand Rescue , Whitney Lee gets brutally honest about advertising strategies and why so many businesses waste money by spreading their budget too thin. She breaks down when billboards actually work, when they don’t, and how to blend traditional and digital marketing for real results. Whitney shares the exact scenarios where billboards...

In this episode of Brand Rescue , Whitney Lee sits down with Margo McNaull , the founder and designer behind By Margot , to talk about how a personal jewelry dilemma turned into a thriving business. Margo opens up about leaving her government job, navigating entrepreneurship during the pandemic, and discovering her passion for creating legacy pieces that tell women's stories. From building a niche...

If you’re posting the same content on TikTok and Instagram and wondering why nothing is working… this episode is calling you out. Today on Brand Rescue , Whitney Lee breaks down the real differences between the two platforms and why your one-size-fits-all strategy is tanking your reach. She explains how TikTok rewards raw, real, fast-paced content while Instagram still wants a curated mix that bui...

She got fired over a bra, and turned it into her life’s mission. In this episode of Brand Rescue , Whitney Lee sits down with Jessica Wenger McPhaul , a fashion industry veteran who turned a moment of exclusion into a movement for representation. Jessica shares the story of a fitting session gone wrong that exposed how deeply the fashion world overlooks women of diverse backgrounds and body types....

You launched an ad, spent your hard-earned cash… and nothing happened. Sound familiar? In this episode of Brand Rescue , Whitney Lee calls out two of the biggest mistakes small business owners make when it comes to advertising. She explains why successful campaigns often take multiple tries, how to craft messages that actually land, and what it really means to “target the right audience.” Whitney...

What happens when an influencer goes way off the rails? In this episode, Whitney Lee breaks down a recent viral clash between a local bakery and an influencer. From miscommunication to public callouts, Whitney unpacks where things went sideways and what both sides can learn from the fallout. Whitney also tackles the difference between media and influencers (they’re not the same), how to handle cri...

PR is changing and if you’re still pitching like it’s 2015, you’re already behind. In this episode of Brand Rescue , Whitney Lee sits down with Gloria Chou , a former U.S. Diplomat turned PR powerhouse, to talk about how small businesses can actually get seen in the new media landscape. They dig into what’s working (and what’s not) when it comes to earning real visibility, standing out in an AI-dr...

💸 Think advertising is dead? Think again. In this episode of Brand Rescue , Whitney Lee breaks down where smart business owners are putting their marketing dollars right now —and why old-school tactics might be making a serious comeback. From budget strategy to creative execution, Whitney shares the kind of insight that’ll make you rethink how you’re getting in front of your audience. 🎧 Tune in...

From the classroom to the comms room—this week’s guest knows a thing or two about getting a message across. Whitney sits down with Bobby Parker, founder of Parker Gene Creative, who went from teaching lessons to teaching schools how to actually communicate. They dive into the wild world of education marketing—where every message has to speak to parents, students, teachers, and sometimes the whole...

🚨 Hot take: not running ads might be the most expensive mistake your business is making. In this episode of Brand Rescue , Whitney cuts through the noise on paid advertising—calling out the four boneheaded moves that are draining wallets and stunting growth. (Don’t worry, if you’ve made one of these mistakes… you’re in good company.) From why “dabbling” in ads is a total waste, to how negotiation...

🎙️ Buckle up, because Whitney’s sitting down with a guy who basically went from running a marketing agency to steering two media powerhouses you’ve definitely heard of: Featured.com and the newly revived HARO (yep, that HARO). Brett Farmiloe drops into Brand Rescue to talk about what it’s like breathing new life into a platform that connects journalists with sources, why trust in media is more imp...

Here’s the deal: people don’t want to buy from faceless logos anymore—they want to buy from humans . In this episode, we're breaking down why thought leadership isn’t just some fluffy buzzword, but the make-or-break factor for connecting with millennials and Gen Z. We’ll get into how to humanize your brand (without cringey corporate-speak), how to actually build trust in a world of nonstop scrolli...

Big things are happening around here. Whitney is pulling back the curtain on a brand-new chapter — one that’s all about growth, evolution, and helping more businesses thrive. And yes, there are a few surprises you won’t want to miss. --------- Your Marketing Heroes Website Connect with Whitney on Instagram Connect with Whitney on LinkedIn True Story Website

Why did we skip an episode this week? Whitney’s got something new up her sleeve, and this episode gives you just enough of a peek to get curious. Be sure to tune in next week for the big reveal! ---------- Connect with Whitney on Instagram Connect with Whitney on LinkedIn True Story PR on Instagram True Story Website

Think strategy is just a buzzword? Think again. In this episode, Whitney Lee breaks down why strategic planning deserves its own line item in your business budget—and how skipping it can seriously stunt your growth. She shares real talk from her own experience investing in coaching and the powerful perspective that comes from bringing in outside experts. You’ll learn: Why strategy, goals, and tact...

What does it really take to grow a successful PR agency—and keep it thriving through the ups, downs, and plot twists? In this episode, Whitney Lee sits down with Jessy Klein-Fafana, founder and CEO of LaRue PR, for a real and inspiring conversation about her journey in the industry. From the early days of building her agency to leading a team through the chaos of COVID-19, Jessy opens up about wha...

Running a restaurant takes grit, heart, and hustle—and when it comes to filling seats and staying relevant, smart marketing is a key piece of the puzzle. In this episode, Whitney Lee shares insights from years in the restaurant industry, diving into the real work of building a brand that goes beyond just great food. From defining your unique identity to leveraging PR, events, and digital strategy,...

Marketing isn’t one-size-fits-all—and trying to force it can lead to stress, burnout, and frustrated clients. In this episode, Whitney Lee sits down with marketing strategist Lauren Peachie for a candid conversation about what really goes into building strong client relationships and marketing systems that actually work. Lauren shares her journey through the industry, the lessons she’s learned abo...

Ever feel like you're throwing money at marketing and just hoping something sticks? You’re not alone—and it’s time to change that. In this episode, Whitney Lee breaks down the difference between doing marketing stuff and actually having a strategy . She shares why data should drive your decisions (not just gut feelings), and how building trust with clients starts with showing you know what’s worki...

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your agency’s numbers—or just kind of guessed your way through profitability—this episode is your wake-up call. Whitney Lee sits down with Louise Hipperson, CEO of The Finance Agency, to unpack what’s really going on behind the spreadsheets. Louise shares her own journey into finance, then dives into what every agency owner needs to understand: how to use financi...

Ever seen a killer ad for a product or service… only to try it and think, “Wait, what?” That is the disconnect between marketing and operations—and it’s more common (and costly) than you think. In this episode, Whitney Lee gets real about the tension that can bubble up between the teams promising the dream and the ones delivering it. She shares personal stories, hard-won lessons, and practical way...

What if landing podcast interviews wasn’t just about pitching yourself—but about showing up with purpose, strategy, and a little storytelling magic? In this episode, Whitney sits down with Carrolee Moore, founder of The Podcast Pitching Society, to talk all things visibility, authenticity, and how to actually get results from being a guest on podcasts. Carrolee shares how she went from storytellin...